www.shortleafpine.net Circular 1135 (SLPI - 02)

Silvics of Shortleaf Pine Bill Pickens, Conifer Silviculturist, North Carolina Forest Service

Shortleaf pine, Pinus echinata, is the most widely distributed, but perhaps least understood of the four major southern yellow pines.2 Growing in 22 states from southern New York to eastern Texas, it occupies the largest range (Fig. 1) of any pine in the southeastern United States.5 Its extensive distribution reflects it adaptability to a great variety of soil, average annual temperatures (48–70-degree F), total precipitation (40–60 inches) and elevations (up to 3000 feet).6 Throughout much of its range, but especially in the East, it is a species of minor and varying occurrence often found growing with other pines and hardwoods. In Arkansas and Missouri, where it is the only naturally occurring pine, we find Figure 1: Range map showing the distribution of shortleaf across the east and depicting commercial and botanical distribution. Credit: Mattoon, 1915 widespread areas of pure and mixed shortleaf-oak stands. crook7. The sprouting ability provides shortleaf a unique competitive Shortleaf pine is a medium to large tree advantage over many other species. reaching 80 to 100 feet tall and 2–3 feet in diameter in a lifespan of 200 Although found on many different types of soil, shortleaf is most competitive years. The straight bole (Fig. 4) with low on dry shallow nutrient poor soils. Shortleaf pine is found in pure or mixed taper supports a small pyramidal stands on upland sites associated with loblolly and Virginia pine, a variety of crown. The short needles, small cones, oaks including, white, black, scarlet, post, and chestnut, eastern red cedar, and platy bark (Fig. 2) with distinct and hickory.6 Shortleaf has low tolerance for poor soil aeration or a high small resin pockets, allow for easy water table. As a pioneer species, it is well suited to invade old fields or identification of mature trees. We can disturbed sites, but usually gives way to faster growing, more competitive distinguish shortleaf seedlings from species. Shortleaf is favored on south and west facing aspects; thin, rocky other pines by the distinctive double soils, on higher elevations north and west of the loblolly range, and on too crook (Fig. 3) formed at or just below dry, warm, and infertile for eastern white pine. the forest floor8. Seedlings and saplings top-killed after a fire have the Shortleaf pine trees begin to produce seed crops around age 20. Trees ability to sprout from special greater than 12 inches in diameter are most likely to produce more and higher reproductive buds located in this basal quality seed. Although some trees produce seed every year, good to excellent Figure 2: Shortleaf pine needles (left image). Shortleaf bark, with circular resin pockets (middle). Shortleaf cones (right). Credit: Megan Robertson, Holly Campbell, and Bill Pickens. cone crops happen every 3–6 years in the southern and several oak species allowing western areas of its range; and 3–10 years in the northern for mixed stand management and eastern areas.6 Overall, poor, irregular seed crops are with oaks. common for shortleaf pine. Seedfall begins in late October to early November with a majority of the seed falling 75 to Shortleaf pine is a valued 150 feet from the tree. Each of the small cones contains timber tree. Its wood quality, 25–30 seed. A tree may have 130 cones in a good year. including the juvenile wood, is superior to loblolly pine. Foresters describe the The qualities required for high growth of shortleaf pine as grade sawtimber include; slow but steady. For its first straightness, low taper, two years, shortleaf pine high wood density, small uses most of its resources branches, high proportion of developing a root system. latewood, and no fewer than During this period, faster 4 growth rings in the last inch growing competitors easily of radial growth.1,12 At age 40 overtop it. Shortleaf pine the proportion of high-value feeder roots are smaller pole size timber may be as Figure 4: This 70 year and more abundant in high as 40 percent. Most old shortleaf depicts the the upper few inches of studies have documented straightness, taper, small 11 the soil than loblolly. It that loblolly pine has 10–15 branches, and slow growth is considered windfirm point site quality index (base desired for top grade lumber. thanks to a deep taproot 50) advantage over shortleaf Credit: Bill Pickens and extensive lateral pine. However, Harrington Figure 3: This shortleaf seedling roots.4,8 Shortleaf pine reported the difference shows the species’ unique basal exhibits between loblolly and shortleaf site quality crook (arrow indicates), where slow annual indexes decreased as the site quality it sprouts from following fire growth increased; the highest quality sites have damage. Credit: Bill Pickens rate during little or no growth advantage.3 Shortleaf also its first makes a valuable landscape tree in urban 10–20 years. By age 20, its growth rate and residential areas (Fig. 4). becomes close to that of loblolly pine and around age 50 is greater.10 The steady Shortleaf is the favored pine of the southern growth rate and the species greater lifespan pine beetle, in part because its low resin favor long rotations.9 Shortleaf is shade flow cannot expel invading beetles. intolerant. Foresters usually manage it as an Shortleaf pine is resistant to fusiform rust a even aged stand. It persists in very dense common problem of loblolly and slash pine stand conditions and responds to release plantations.Littleleaf disease is a serious thinning even when the trees are mature.6,13 threat to shortleaf that reduces growth Shortleaf tolerates competition longer rates and causes mortality. Shortleaf has than loblolly pine. Control of understory Figure 5: Shortleaf as an the lowest risk to ice storms damage of the competition increases the growth rate. Its attractive landscape specimen major southern pines. growth rate and sprouting ability is similar to at a Georgia site. Credit: Megan Robertson www.shortleafpine.net 2 Comparison of traits among the four major southern pines.12 1=High and 4=Low Trait Shortleaf Loblolly Longleaf Slash Fusiform rust resistance 1 2 1 3 Southern Pine Beetle susceptibility 1 2 4 3 Littleleaf disease susceptibility 1 2 4 2 Drought resistance 2 3 2 4 Cold resistance 1 2 3 4 Ice resistance 1 2 3 4 Tolerance of wet soils 3 2 3 1 Fertility needs 3 1 3 2 Resistance to stagnation 2 3 3 4

References 1Dickens, David E., B. Jackson, D.J. Moorhead, and B.C. 7Masters, R. E. 2008. Fire ecology and management of shortleaf McElvany. 2005. A guide to southern pine products and pine. http://www.fire.forestencyclopedia.net/p/p165/view, general specification. UGA-WSFR Extension Note-November Accessed 2007. 2005. http://www.forestproductivity.net/economics/products/ 8Mattoon, W. R. 1915 Life history of shortleaf pine. Bulletin of the accessed: August 2014 US Department of Agriculture, No. 244. Washington, D.C. 46 pp.

2Guldin, James M. 2007. Restoration and management of 9Smalley, Glendon W. 1986. Stand Dynamics of Unthinned and shortleaf pine in pure and mixed stands- science, empirical Thinned Shortleaf Plantations. In: Proceedings: Symposium on observation, and the wishful application of generalities. In the shortleaf pine ecosystem, P.A. Murphy (editor), Little Rock, proceedings: Shortleaf Pine Restoration in the Ozarks. Nor. Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, 272 pp. Res.Sta. GTR NRS-P-15. Pp 47-58. USDA Forest Service, Washington DC 10Strub, Mike R. 1992. Choosing the right site-a forest industry view. In: Proceedingd of the Shortleaf Pine Regeneration 3Harrington, Constance A. 1987. Site-index comparisons for Workshop. GTR-SO-90. pp163-166. USDA Forest Service, New naturally seeded loblolly pine and shortleaf pine. Southern Orleans, LA. Journal of Applied Forestry 11(2):86-91. 11Walker, Laurence C. and Harry V Wiant. Jr, 1966. Silviculture 4Harrington, Constance A., J C. Brissette, and W. C Carlson. of Shortleaf Pine. Forestry Bulletin No. 9: Forestry Bulletins Vol. 1989. Root system structure in planted and seeded loblolly and 1-25, 1957-1972. Book 8. Stephen F Austin State College, shortleaf pine. Forest Science. 35(2): 469-480. Nacogdoches, TX.

5Little, Elbert L., Jr. 1971. Atlas of United States trees. vol. 12White, Fred. 2006. Why Shortleaf? Values and growth and 1. Conifers and important hardwoods. U.S. Department of yield of shortleaf. Presentation given January 11, 2006 . Shortleaf Agriculture, Miscellaneous Publication 1146. Washington, DC. 9 Restoration. NC State University Extension Forestry, Forestry p., 313 maps. Issues Teleconference Series. Unpublished.

6Lawson, E.R. 1990. Shortleaf pine. In Silvics of North America: 13Yocum, Herbert A. 1971 Releasing shortleaf pine increases 1. Conifers. Vol 1 AgricultureHandbook. No. 654. pp 316-326. seed and cone production. Sothern Forest Experiment Station. USDA Forest Service., Washington DC. RN-SO-125. USDA Forest Service, New Orleans, LA. pp.2

Shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) forests and associated habitats contain extraordinary cultural, ecological, and economic value by providing wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, enhanced water quality, and high value wood products. Despite these values and services, shortleaf pine has significantly declined across much of its 22-state range. These fact sheets provide tools and resources necessary for the restoration of shortleaf pine. www.shortleafpine.net 3 extension.uga.edu Circular 1135 (SLPI-02) Reviewed April 2018

Published by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. For more information or guidance, contact your local Extension office. The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (working cooperatively with Fort Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the counties of Georgia) offers its educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action organization.